The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-05-31

of endurance Of nerves and brain and
body, and beyond it. Those others, of
whom Anne Estray was one, could
dance up to it; but to them it was the
dead line-one step beyond it and no
more dancing-for them all was over. /,
No more dancingl When the physi-
clan who was called to the fair, frail
creature one morning, after the most
intoxicating cotillon Of the year, utter
ed the fiat, the great eyes opened like
pair OF stars out Of twilight. and little
color crushed itself on the white cheek.
"Oh, but shall dancel" she whispered.
II shall have to be very plain with
you, then, ''said the physician. "You
have been under 4 strain, whose break
at last has given you a mortal blow.
You may pos IDLY, with the greatest
care, repair its effects and live for
twenty years to come; or you may die
after ono more cotillon, provided you
had the strength to go through the
figure. What? You shake your head!
You persist? Do you suppose there is
much blood lett in your body, after all
that has but lately bubbled out of your
slip? You have no flesh; you are al
most transparent to-day. You have but
a thread Of vitality. Neither flesh nor
blood, nor vitality-what have youp''
81 have nerve," murmured she, with
emphasis, if not with voice. "That
thread would hold starl l have an
indomitable spiritl I will not disap-
point it. shall 60 to the masquerade
next Tuesday week." she gasped, "if
1 have to go as ghostl Now all you
have to do, doctor, is to build me up.n
There was III truth, such an indomit-
able spirit in the thing with that vital
thread, that the doctor had no choice
but to obey as best he could. But, in
spirit of,his endeavors, the little crea-
ture's rallying powers refused to meet
his medicaments, and she failed visibly.
She did not lose the run Of the days,
for all that, and she issued her orders
for her dress, and she had feyerish
eagerness to know what others were to
wear, especially one youth whose step
quite suited her own. 81 shall dance
with him, and he shall never dream
who ami" she said, huskily, with her
cheeks burning and her eyes glitteringl
'He is going as Lucifer, Son of II
Morning; how perfectly gloriousl 4
have found it out, you see. He will be
gllttering in silver mail, with star on
his casque, am going as Shelley's
Cloud!" She insisted on being dressed
every day, and on being led up and
down the room. "Oh, when the time
comes I shall be all rightl' she said
"It's of no use to light my fires till
then" No one contradicted her.
Her dress had come home on the
morning Of the great ball; she had tried
it on with some Pickering strength, and
had ordered slight alteration to be
made. 1t was a corselet and undress
netted with bits Of mother-of-
softly glittering in faint reflections of
innumerable colors, and over it was
profusion Of flowing tulle, held together
and literally streaming with pearls and
opals and moonstones. So Shelley's
Cloud, indeed, might stream and gilt
ter when the moons beam kissed it on
mountain side, and suffused it's roll
ing fleece with bloom and splendor. 1t
tired her, perhaps, when she tried it on
a second time, after the gas jets were
lighted. ~ will not take it off again.
she murmured. ''Just lift all this tulle
round me in the chair so that it shall
not be crushed. And you might take
the jewels off till by and by-they are
so heavy" And that done, her head
dropped little on one side and she fell
asleep.
1t was strange dream that Anne
Estray had in that sleep Of hers. The
moonlight seemed to fall into tile room,
gliding everything with frosty silver;
and in the broad beam there stood all
at once great shape white, still,
towering and mighty. ''Oh!" she said,
"What are you doing herep What do
you want?" .v
"You!' said the shape. And she
thrilled as one does to great music.
"I?-I? What do you want with
me?" she cried, hoarsely. sol who are
you?"
81 am your FRIEND" he said, smiling
down gently upon her. The best of all
your friends. I am the Angel of
Death" "## z &<&a &tth&
''Death! Death! Oh, how cold you
are! You have come for me!''
'"To take you for my own.''
"But [ am not ready! have had no
idea of it'll Why, I am going to the